Norfolk woman wanted for bilking priest, others of $270k

NORFOLK  State police are looking for a Norfolk woman in connection with a grand larceny case in which investigators believe an area priest may have been misled in efforts to collect more than $250,000 for a needy individual.

She is being sought in connection with an on-going course of conduct. Numerous subjects provided her with money under false pretenses. I dont think we will ever reach every victim in this case. She said she needed money for certain reasons. Those reasons are not accurate, she said,

The case stemmed from reports of a former Waddington priest who had solicited tens of thousands of dollars from parishioners and friends and in attempt to assist a woman he was led to believe was destitute.

Officials with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg said in February Monsignor Robert L. Lawler, the former priest at St. Marys Catholic Church in Waddington, collected money for someone he wrongly was led to believe was in dire financial straits.

Our understanding is Monsignor Lawler was the victim of a scam that went on for a period of time, the Rev. Kevin J. OBrien, moderator of the curia for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg, said in February. He thought he was assisting someone, but the reason for need appears to have been false.

Investigator Trimboli said all of the money Ms. Zeller collected over the past several months did not go through Monsignor Lawler. Monsignor Lawler was not the only avenue she went through to obtain money under false pretenses, she said.

Troopers describe Ms. Zeller as a white female with brown hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs about 180 pounds. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact the state police at 769-8406 or 379-0012.

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